Table Of ContentA
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Checkerboard
Library
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Meet the greatest stars in sports with Awesome Athletes! In this
series, each book tells the inspiring story of one athlete’s journey i
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from childhood dreams to professional success. Scores, stats, and
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record-breaking accomplishments are just part of the experience. n
You’ll also discover the contributions each athlete makes to his or
her community. Jam-packed with career highlights, high-impact
photographs, and more, Awesome Athletes is a winner!
BOOKS IN THIS SET
Miguel Cabrera Colin Kaepernick Danica Patrick
Gabby Douglas Peyton Manning Aaron Rodgers
Kevin Durant Johnny Manziel Mike Trout
LeBron James Clay Matthews Russell Wilson
ABDO PUBLISHING IS A DIVISION OF ABDO
WWW.ABDOPUBLISHING.COM
Jameson Anderson
Checkerboard
Library
An Imprint of Abdo Pub1lishing
Jameson Anderson
www.abdopublishing.com
www.abdopublishing.com
Published by Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO, PO Box 398166, Minneapolis, Minnesota
55439. Copyright © 2015 by Abdo Consulting Group, Inc. International copyrights reserved in all
countries. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from
the publisher. Checkerboard Library™ is a trademark and logo of Abdo Publishing.
Printed in the United States of America, North Mankato, Minnesota.
052014
092014
Cover Photo: AP Images
Interior Photos: AP Images pp. 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 25, 27, 29
Series Coordinator: Tamara L. Britton
Editors: Rochelle Baltzer, Megan M. Gunderson
Art Direction: Neil Klinepier
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Anderson, Jameson.
Russell Wilson / Jameson Anderson.
pages cm. -- (Awesome athletes)
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-62403-337-7
1. Wilson, Russell, 1988---Juvenile literature. 2. Quarterbacks (Football)--United States--Biography-
-Juvenile literature. 3. Football players--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature. 4. Baseball
players--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature. 5. Seattle Seahawks (Football team)--
Juvenile literature. I. Title.
GV939.WW545A64 2015
796.332092--dc23
[B]
2014010903
2
table of contents
Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Highlight Reel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Family, Sports & School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
High School Star . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Choosing College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
NC State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Minor Leagues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Go Badgers! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
NFL Draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Rookie Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Looking Ahead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Websites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
3
champions
On February 2, 2014, fans
stood and cheered at MetLife
Stadium in East Rutherford, New
Jersey. Confetti was shot into the
air above the players holding one
of the most prized awards in all of
sports, the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The Seattle Seahawks had just
beaten the Denver Broncos 43–8
to win Super Bowl XLVIII.
Many fans were shocked
at the score. Most experts had
picked Denver to win. No one on
the Seattle team had been to the
Super Bowl XLVIII featured the largest
score spread in more than 20 years.
Super Bowl before! But Seattle’s
quarterback, Russell Wilson, had led his offense with
efficient play. He completed 18 of 25 of passes. He threw
for 206 yards (188 m) and two touchdowns.
4
Russell Wilson with the
Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The prize is named after
the famed Green Bay
Packers coach who led
his team to victory in
Super Bowls I and II.
Some had thought Wilson was too short to play
professional football. But he let the world know he was
tall enough, quick enough, and smart enough to win.
Wilson knew there was a great future ahead of him. He
was just 25 years old, and it was only his second season in
the National Football League (NFL).
5
hi g h l i g h t
R e e l
On April 27, the Seattle
The Colorado Rockies Seahawks drafted
Russell Carrington
drafted Wilson in the Wilson with the 75th
Wilson was born in
fourth round of the MLB overall pick in the third
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Draft; he began playing round of the NFL Draft.
in the minor leagues.
1988
2012
2010
2007 2014
2011
The Baltimore Orioles Wilson and the Seattle
drafted Wilson in the Wilson finished his Seahawks defeated
41st round of the MLB college football career the Denver Broncos in
Draft; he declined to at the University of Super Bowl XLVIII.
sign a contract. Wisconsin–Madison.
66
hi g h l i g h t
Russell
R e e l
Wilson
DOB: November 29, 1988
Ht: 5’11”
Wt: 206
Position: QB
Number: 3
Career StatiStiCS:
Passing Yards:.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Passing touchdowns:.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,475
rushing Yards:.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
rushing touchdowns:.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,028
Quarterback rating: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 . 25
aWarDS:
Pepsi NFL rookie of the Year: 2012
Pro Bowl: 2012, 2013
Senior Bowl: 2011
Super Bowl Champion: 2014 77
family, spoRts
& school
Russell Carrington Wilson was born on November
29, 1988, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents were Tammy
and Harrison B. Wilson III. His father was a lawyer and his
mother worked as a legal nurse consultant. Russell is their
middle child. He has an older brother, Harrison Wilson IV,
and a younger sister, Anna.
Sports are a tradition in the Wilson family. Russell’s
father played football and baseball at Dartmouth
College. And in 1980, his father was the last player cut
from the San Diego Chargers preseason squad.
Russell’s brother played baseball, football, and
basketball in high school. He continued with baseball
and football in college. Their sister is a basketball star who
had college offers in eighth grade!
8
